Eight charged in drug ring

Eight people, all of whom either live or used to live in the same Aliquippa neighborhood, have been charged as part of a drug ring using forged prescriptions under a Coraopolis physician’s name.

“This is one of the bigger rings we’ve had in Beaver County in a long time,” said District Attorney Anthony Berosh on Wednesday. “They were hitting every pharmacy on the planet.”

Berosh said the ringleader was Nicole L. Oprisko, 29, of 531 Mellon Ave., Rochester Township, who faces 83 criminal charges, including 27 counts of acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, 29 counts of receiving stolen property and 27 counts of conspiracy.

Oprisko, who was charged Sept. 10, waived her right to a preliminary hearing Monday. Two of her co-defendants, Linda L. Mannino, 29, of 223 Baker St., Aliquippa, and Kelly J. Forrester, 42, of 178 Baker St., Aliquippa, were also charged Sept. 10.

Mannino’s preliminary hearing was continued from Monday to Oct. 8, while Forrester waived her right to a hearing Monday.

Forrester is charged with 14 counts each of acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, receiving stolen property and conspiracy, while Mannino faces three counts each of the same charges.

Five additional people were charged Tuesday and are scheduled to be arraigned today before Freedom District Judge Edward Howe. They are:

l Charles D. Forrester, 41, of 178 Baker St., Kelly Forrester’s husband, is charged with 10 counts each of acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation and possession of a controlled substance, as well as one count of conspiracy.

l Daniel P. Forrester, 34, of 531 Mellon Ave., Rochester Township, Charles Forrester’s brother, is charged with five counts of acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation and one count each of conspiracy and attempted possession of a controlled substance. Berosh did not know the relationship between Daniel Forrester and Oprisko, who share the same address.

l Harry A. Conner Jr., 28, of 104 Baker St., Aliquippa, is charged with five counts of acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation and one count of conspiracy.

l Lisa M. Trischler, 28, of 154 Baker St., Aliquippa, is charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, and one count of conspiracy.

l Kevin D. Dillinger, 47, of 176 Baker St., Aliquippa, is charged with three counts each of possession of a controlled substance and acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, and one count of conspiracy.

Although they have the same Rochester Township address now, Berosh said that Oprisko and Daniel Forrester also lived on Baker Street in Aliquippa’s Logstown section while the ring was operating.

“All roads, so to speak, led to Baker Street,” Berosh said.

Scheme Grows

According to criminal complaints filed in Howe’s office by Joseph DeLuca of the county’s anti-drug task force, Oprisko said the scheme began in June 2009 when Forrester suggested that Oprisko write prescriptions for pain pills so Forrester could sell and use them, and Oprisko could make some money.

“It started out small and developed into something big,” DeLuca quoted Oprisko as saying. Oprisko claimed that when she tried to stop the scheme, she was “threatened and blackmailed,” wrote DeLuca, although it was unclear who Oprisko was referring to.

At the time the plan was hatched, Oprisko was the office manager for Dr. Edward James at 1308 Fifth Ave. in Coraopolis. James told police in August that Oprisko had worked for him for about two years before she was recently fired.

James said he suspected Oprisko was stealing prescription pads from him and he never wrote her any prescriptions because, at the time he was interviewed in August, she was six to seven months pregnant.

“Everybody was consuming this stuff,” Berosh said, “and a few (pills) were left over for sale.”

Plot Unravels

Berosh said the plot started to unravel in July when suspicious pharmacists contacted authorities.

DeLuca wrote that Oprisko admitted to stealing two prescription pads containing 100 sheets each from James’ office and that she repeatedly forged James’ signature.

Charles and Kelly Forrester told investigators that Oprisko said she would create patient files for them in James’ office. Both admitted to being addicted to prescription pills, DeLuca wrote.

The others charged also allegedly submitted forged prescriptions and received prescription pills obtained from pharmacies across Beaver County. Prescriptions were mainly written for Percocet, Xanax and Vicodin.

Berosh said the charges highlight a disturbing trend toward prescription drug crimes. Those involved in these types of plots, he said, face less risk than with traditional street drugs such as marijuana, cocaine or heroin.

There are no drug shipments to coordinate or suppliers to meet, Berosh said. “The only exposure you have,” he said, “is that piece of paper in your hand.”